Psalm 45:2 You are fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into your lips: therefore God has blessed you for ever. "Thou art fairer," etc. I. CHRIST IS SO AS THE SON OF GOD. All others have only a creature nature. He has the nature of God, and all the angels of God are bidden worship Him. Then should not we? And more than they, for He died for us, not for them. II. As THE SON OF MAN. The children of men are born of sinful fathers; "He was conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost." They are born with a sinful taint, but He was born without sin. III. IN WORK, SUFFERING AND TEMPTATION, which He shared with the children of men. 1. In work. He knew what it was. Some men never know their work; they spend their whole lives without finding it out, and consequently never do any work worth doing. But Christ knew His work. He made it His meat and His drink. 2. In suffering, too, Christ endured completely all that He was appointed to suffer. There was no putting away from Him that which He ought to bear; no hiding His face from that which He ought to see and confront. "The cup which My Father hath given me, shall I not drink?" 3. In temptation. It could not defile Him as it too often defiles us. Thoughts of wrong-doing were thrown into His mind like firebrands thrown into a house, but they never even proceeded towards the production of a wrong purpose. IV. IN HIS OFFICIAL CHARACTERS of prophet, King and priest. Contrast the ordinary prophets and Christ. He was ever speaking by the Holy Spirit, ever faithful, ever possessing unlimited knowledge. And as King and priest he was perfect. V. IN FOUR THINGS IN WHICH MEN NOTABLY FAIL. 1. In the harmony and variety of His excellencies. 2. In the unbroken consistency of His actions. 3. In the perfection of His manifold works. 4. His influence was in all respects superior. We need nobody to tell us that Jesus Christ is better than man. Do you act the things you know best? Do you work out now the things with which you are most familiar? Certainly not. For example, you think of the children of men more than of Him who is "fairer than," etc. And you love them more; and prize them more. They. seem to give you more pleasure. You perhaps also trust "the children of men" more than you trust Him who is "fairer than the children of men." They have often deceived you. Therefore we remind you of the truth of the text, that we may get more thought, more love, more confidence, more service, more honest speech for Him, mark, who is "fairer than the children of men." Let us take care lest any of us, after having professed to account the Lord Jesus Christ "fairer than the children of men" should be condemned for having preferred men to our Saviour. (Samuel Martin.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. |
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